At Reliable Design-Build-Remodel, we take great pride in creating beautiful and functional living spaces for our clients. However, we’re also dedicated to ensuring the safety and health of our team members. One of the lesser-known dangers in the remodeling industry is the presence of silica dust, a hazardous substance that can have serious health implications if not properly managed. In this blog, we’ll address the dangers of silica dust, its toxicity, prevention measures, and the dreaded disease known as silicosis.
What are Silica Particles?
Silica, in the form of crystalline quartz, is a common mineral naturally found in several forms of rock or in the Earth’s surface.
When materials like concrete, brick, stone, or tiles are cut, drilled, sanded, ground, demolished, or mixed, tiny particles of silica can be released into the air as dust.
These microscopic particles, if inhaled, can pose significant health risks if workers experience exposure to airborne particles. Smaller particles get inhaled deep into the lungs and lodge in the lung tissue.
In the remodeling world, we often come into contact with these kinds of dusts and powders, for example when demolishing old foundations, or cutting countertops for kitchens and bathrooms. It’s an ever present threat to physical safety that we absolutely must account for during a home remodeling project.
Are Silica Particles Toxic?
Yes, silica dust is indeed toxic. Medical experts and health officials have identified the dust from crystalline silica as hazardous. It is known to cause cancer and is also associated with several other serious health conditions. Inhalation of silica particles can lead to a range of health problems, the most serious of which is silicosis. Silicosis is a progressive and incurable lung disease caused by the prolonged inhalation of crystalline silica dust. It damages lung tissue and can lead to severe breathing difficulties.
How Do I Prevent Harm from Silica Particles?
Preventing harm from silica dust is of paramount importance, and Reliable is used to dealing with the dangers posed during a seemingly innocuous remodeling project. Here are some key steps to protect workers, residents, and everyone involved:
- Use Proper Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Workers should wear respirators, safety glasses, and protective clothing to minimize exposure.
- Implement Dust Control Measures: Utilize dust extraction systems and wet-cutting methods to keep dust levels to a minimum during remodeling tasks. Reliable Design-Build-Remodel cordons off parts of the houses we work in with plastic sheeting to prevent dust from reaching out into the rest of the home.
- Ventilation: Ensure adequate ventilation in work areas to disperse airborne particles. Even something as basic as an open or closed window can seriously impact the danger posed by silica dust.
- Training: Train all personnel on the hazards of silica dust and the importance of safe work practices. If you’re a homeowner who is getting a remodel that requires dust safety precautions, please inform your family and friends of the potential dangers of silica dust.
- Regular Health Checkups: Schedule regular health checkups for employees to detect any early signs of silicosis. It is a lung disease, so while it may sound like an obvious sickness, it’s also one that can wait to show symptoms for years or decades.
What is Silicosis?
Silicosis is a totally incurable, extraordinarily debilitating, and potentially fatal lung disease caused by accidental and/or occupational exposure to silica dust. Symptoms may not become apparent until many years after exposure, making early detection and prevention vital. The disease progresses in stages, leading to severe lung damage, shortness of breath, chest tightness, coughing, inflammation, fibrosis, and increased vulnerability to respiratory infections.
To learn more about Silicosis, please visit consumernotice.org for more information about symptoms and preventative measures. If you or a loved one were exposed to silica and later suffered from serious health problems, consumernotice.org also provides free case reviews to see if you are eligible for compensation. They also have a page dedicated to ongoing lawsuits related to silicosis, which has more information about the difference between silicosis in the United States vs. other countries around the world.
We at Reliable are totally committed to the well-being of our team members and clients. Silica dust is a serious concern in the remodeling industry, but with proper awareness, training, and safety measures, we can mitigate the risks associated with its exposure to negligible levels. Reliable Design-Build-Remodel is dedicated to staying up-to-date with safety standards and practices to ensure that our remodeling projects are not only beautiful but also safe for everyone involved.
Reliable Design-Build-Remodel is a full service general construction firm and remodeling contractor operating in the Birmingham metro and Jefferson and Shelby County areas and surrounding communities, including Birmingham, Helena, Chelsea, Mountain Brook, Hoover, Homewood, Montevallo, Alabaster, Vestavia Hills, and Pelham, with over 30 years of servicing our valued clients. Offering full service suite of general remodeling, design and build services. Our specialties include bathroom remodeling, kitchen remodeling, exterior renovations, interior renovations, painting, and more!
Visit us at reliablerem.com, and like and follow us on Facebook and Instagram!
This article was made with credit and special thanks Chris Culhane and the team at consumernotice.org for allowing us to use their images and graphs!
